Reviews tagging 'Antisemitism'

The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin

36 reviews

gabbadabbadoo's review

adventurous dark funny reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

i am literally obsessed i cant say much about why without spoiling but i love the idea that every city is living and breathing and the primary's pov was cool

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, and Antisemitism

Moderate: Lesbophobia

machenn's review

adventurous hopeful inspiring mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Cursing, Antisemitism, Lesbophobia, and Sexual harassment

troisha's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia

Moderate: Body horror, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Antisemitism, and Islamophobia

Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Abortion, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

meganpbennett's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The City We Became is magical realism at its finest. One day, New York City is born. Born as a living City, with a living avatar and 5 sub-avatars. But as it's being born, something straight out of Lovecraft attacks it, trying to kill it. The avatar fights it off, and collapses, just as the sub-avatars awaken. And it gets better and more confusing from there. 

The City We Became doesn't have the exposition or information dump that a lot of magical realism books have. The reader learns what is happening as the characters learn. I'm very interested to see where she goes with the trilogy, given what happens during the climatic scenes. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, and Antisemitism

akblair's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

There are aspects of this I really love but overall I feel like it tries to do too much- worth a read if you love NYC, though. Loses some points from me for sound effects and music in the audiobook- but if you’re in to that I suppose it’s well done.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Genocide, Antisemitism, Grief, Cultural appropriation, and Colonisation

This is essentially a study of all the different cultures that make up NYC- for better or worse- and it doesn’t shy away from the ugly parts.

innerweststreetlibrarian's review

adventurous dark funny hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Such an excellent book, I’m sad it’s over but very happy to see the author has plans for two more in the series! The quality of the writing is excellent, the characters interesting and well developed, the story was unpredictable enough to keep me interested. 
I really enjoyed the magical realism and it feels like a beautiful love letter to New York. So excellent! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, and Gaslighting

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Abortion

The author credits a lot of sensitivity readers who helped review the book prior to publication.

lilcoppertop's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Lesbophobia, and Sexual harassment

samusc's review

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was incredible. N. K. Jemisin has woven a distinct fantasy love letter to NYC. 
I wouldn't trust any other author to nail characterization perfectly for people representing each borough. I'm (regrettably) from Staten Island, and my parents from Brooklyn, so I loved the nods throughout this work. I'd die for Bronca. I knew this would be wonderful from the moment I saw the Brooklyn neighborhood shout outs on the map.
The concept of diverse people fighting fascist entities from another universe preying on folks already leaning into gentrification and racism is genius. Moments when the borough avatars break down barriers amongst themselves to work together are immensely satisfying.

The twist near the conclusion was perfectly executed, and the family oriented beach scene made me sob.

I'm so excited for the next book in this series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, and Antisemitism

aardwyrm's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I've never not loved a Jemisin book, but this is a new height of craft for her. I've been to New York all of once, but you still feel the place in your bones even as a despised tourist. The ramping of tension, the unfolding of worldbuilding, and the balance of fright are all masterful.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Body horror, Sexual assault, and Violence

Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and Abortion

zombiezami's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny informative tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This book was really inventive and interesting. I read the short story that formed the base of this novel, and I like the way it was expanded. I have never read a book with a Lenape character, and  it is so important that one was included. This was beautifully diverse and funny overall.

It was also super intense. The white supremacist groups and individuals mobilized by the enemy hit very close to home. I also observe that the book was clearly in conversation with Lovecraft. The ending was

definitely a deus ex machina, but I still liked it. I just hope there isn’t a contingent trying to have a redemption arc for Aislyn but I mean cmon there probably is one isn’t there.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, and Murder

Moderate: Genocide

Minor: Ableism, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Abortion